Mutsu is a beautiful yellow apple that can develop a red blush. The variety is thought to have originated in Japan. If you have had Asian or Japanese pears, then this apple is going remind you of those. It is large with a finely textured skin and a satisfying crispness when you bite into one. The flavor is complex—it takes some time to realize its character. Sweet, yes, but also tangy.
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Winter Banana—Apples of Maine
Winter Banana is one of our favorite apples. It is a large fruit with a smooth waxy skin. Its distinctive yellow with a bright red blush makes it quite startling at first sight. Winter Banana is a crisp apple that has a slight tart character with a banana undertone. We have used these in pies. The flavor is fine, but it does fall apart and becomes more like apple sauce than apple slices.
Golden Russet—Apples of Maine
The wonderful thing of living in a place with so many orchards is the variety of apples. We especially love the heirloom varieties. To me, the Golden Russet is one of the great apples. Russets are recognizable by the texture of the skin. Biting into one gives an instant reward—it is a crisp apple that has a strong earthy flavor. If you have never tasted a russet, it is hard to describe its complex character. This apple stores well and is excellent for sweet and hard ciders.
The Fires of Late Fall, Part 2
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White Mountain National Forest
Looking across Pinkham Notch toward Mt. Adams and Mt. Madison. Click on the image for a larger view.
The Fires of Late Fall
As fall progresses in Maine, the foliage slowly retreats into the forest like the embers of a fading fire. With the loss of the forest canopy, the sun sets these patches ablaze.
Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo
One of the largest temples in Japan is in Asakusa in Tokyo. Sensoji (or Senso Temple) is dedicated to Kannon, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The grounds are always packed with crowds of visitors, of worshippers. The Japanese come to wish or to offer thanks for wishes granted. The wishes that are carried here reflect the facets of life–the gift of a child, success in an exam, a new job, cures for illness, hopes for prosperity, or solace for the deceased. No matter the wish, no matter the burden, the atmosphere is always like a festival. Click on the image for a larger view.
Carmen Elisabeth Puchianu—Translations Poetry Festival
This is one of a series of portraits I did for Translation: Bates International Poetry Festival, 2011. Carmen Elisabeth Puchianu is a wonderful poet from Romania. Her dynamic reading and humor were captivating. You can see her performance at the Translations website as well as the performances from the other seven poets that appeared. An iBook of the festival for the iPad can be downloaded here: Translations – Claudia Aburto Guzmán & William Ash. A pdf version of the book is on the Translations website. Click on the image for a lager view.
Below the Surface
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Early Fall Foliage
Early fall is one of my favorite times in Maine. Apple season is just starting and late tomatoes are still being harvested. But the real magic is in the forests. While the deep ambers and reds of late fall are spectacular, the electric yellows and gold against the remaining green is just so vibrant, so full of life.
A note about my photography. I come from a documentary background that photographs without cropping, creating the final image in the camera. The photographs here represent what the camera saw. Except from some simple work on image contrast, nothing was added or changed digitally later. Click on the images for a larger view.
